Doorknob lock and latch set of the turn-button spindle locking type



Nov. 25, 1952 R. c. CERF, JR

DOORKNOB LOCK AND LATCH SET OF THE TURN-BUTTON SPINDLE LOCKING TYPE 2 SHEETS-SHEET Filed May 1, 1950 FIG. I

ROBERT C. CERF JR.

ATTORNEY Nov. 25, 1952 R. c. CERF, JR ,6 8,955 DOORKNOB LOCK AND LATCH SET OF THE TURN-BU'PTON SPINDLE LOCKING TYPE Filed May 1, 1950 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 FIG. 9.

INVENTOR 'ROBERT C. CERF JR.

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 25, 1952 DOORKNOB LOCK AND LATCH SET OF THE TURN-BUTTON SPINDLE LOCKING TYPE Robert C. Cerf, Jr., Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Hollymade Hardware Manufacturing Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application May 1, 1950, Serial No. 159,339

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a door knob lock and latch set with inside turn-button spindle-locking means for the outside knob and including key operable latch retraction means.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved door knob lock and latch set particularly adapted for outside doors in which the outside knob may be locked against turning by a turn button located in the inside knob which locking remains effective after subsequent turnings of the inside knob for retracting the latch and after retraction of the latch by means of a key-operating in a cylinder lock in the outside knob. Another object is to provide in a door knob and lock set of the kind described, means for restoring the key to its initial position after using it to unlatch the latch bolt.

These and other objects are attained by my invention which will be understood from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view partly in section of a preferred form of my lock and latch set as mounted on a door, with portions broken away to better show the structure;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the rocker for the key actuated rollback;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the retractor;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the spring abutment plate for the retractor;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to Figure 4 but with the key rollback turned to its maximum (about 110) from neutral position;

Figure 9 is a plan view of the retainer key plate used to rotatably hold the outside spindle in the body;

Figure 10 is a disassembly View of the key-actuated shaft and rollback together with the outside spindle lockin means, the parts being shown in perspective;

Figure 11 is a disassembly view of the turn button, the locking sleeve, and the connecting parts, shown in perspective;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the inner knob sleeve and rollback;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the cylinder lock housing in the outer knob;

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the outside knob spindle;

Figure 15 is a side elevational view of the retaining key for the inside spindle;

Figure 16 is a fragmentary elevational view of the retractorhousing, with parts broken away and shown in section;

Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line |l| of Figure 1.

In the preferred form of my invention shown in the drawings, the lock and latch set consists of a body 20 which is generally cylindrical in shape and is assembled from die-cast metal half portions designated 2| for the outside half portion and 22 for the inside half portion, these half portions being assembled as a hollow unitary body 20 by means of the assembly screws 23 whose threaded ends engage threaded holes 24 in the outside half portion 2|, the corresponding unthreaded holes 25 in the inside half portion 22 being countersunk at 25 to receive the heads 21 of the assembly screws 23. In the drawings, the right hand knob containing the key-actuated cylinder lock and the appurtenances thereto are referred to as outside and the left hand knob containing the turn button and the appurtenances thereto are referred to as inside, this referring to the door mounting, for example, such as a house entrance door. The outside half portion 2| is provided with an outside threaded outwardly extending axial bearing sleeve 29 adapted for the rotatable mounting therein of the outside tubular spindle 30 upon the end of which the outside knob 3| is fastened. The inside half portion 22 is also provided with an elongated axial bearing sleeve 32 extending from the body 22, in which is mounted for rotation the inside tubular spindle 33 on the end of which is mounted the inside knob 3 A peripheral window 35 is provided to give access to the interior of the housing 20 for purposes to be explained below.

The latch bolt retractor consists of a generally rectangular frame having a thrust partition wall 4|, and having the opposed sides taper to an end slot 42 at the end of the frame 0pposite said partition wall 4|, said notch being adapted to engage the latch bar by means of the end lugs on the end thereof. The thrust partition wall M of the retractor 4|] is provided with a cross slot 43 at the inside edge, the thrust wall 4| being strengthened by a front wall 44 and a back wall 45 on the retractor, the front wall 54 facing toward the inside knob 34 and the back wall 45 facing toward the outside knob 3|. The back wall 45 is provided with a stop lug 56 extending above the thrust wall 4|, and a pivot slot 47 adapted to pivot the rocker $8. The rocker 43 (see Figure consists of a pressure plate 48A adapted to extend upwardly through the cross slot 43, and rocker feet 69 arranged to rest against the underside of the thrust wall iii. The pivot boss 59 extends in the opposite direction from said rocker feet 49 relative to said rocker plate 48 and at right angles thereto, being adapted to fit in the pivot slot M of the back wall of the retractor. The spring abutment plate 51 (see Figure 7) is rectangular and adapted to slide between the front wall id and back wall Q5 beneath the thrust wall ii, and is provided with a notch 52 to avoid interference with the rocker pivot boss 59. The spring plate :5! is also conveniently provided with a centering boss 53 adapted to position the end of the retractor coil spring 5d. The retractor 518 is adapted to reciprocate within the hollow body 29, being provided with guide members 55 formed in the interior of the outside half portion 2%. The retractor 453 is arranged to slide on the retainer key plate 55 which is disposed between the guide members 55, the further structure and function of which will be described below. The coil compression spring 5 is interposed between the bottom of the hole formed between the half bodies 2! and 22 in the bosses 5'1, and the underside of the spring abutment plate 5| below the retractor thrust wall 4! thus normally forcing the portion of the retractor having the end slot i2 toward the window 35 in the body 29 at which position the ,latch bar unit 69 is attached, as will be described.

The spring latch unit 63 consists generally of a cylindrical housing 6! which is adapted to fit in a hole drilled from the edge of the door at right angles to the main body mounting hole in the door, the unit being held by the flush plate 62 which is'countersunk and attached to the edge of the door by screws (not shown). The latch bolt 63 normally protrudes through an opening in the flush plate, the latch bolt being connected to the latch bar 64 which extends through the other or rear end closure 85. The latch bar 65 is provided with end slot 56 which, as described above, are engaged by the slot 42 of the retractor. The attaching tabs 67 extending from the end closure 65 are form-ed to slide under the margins of the peripheral window 35 in the body 2%], the edge of the cylindrical housing 5i of the latch unit being arranged to press on the opposite or outside surface of the margins of the window 35,. The latch unit 69 is thus slidingly attached to the body 29 at the window so that its longitudinal position relative to the cylindrical main bodyimay be adjusted by sliding it alongthe marginal edge of the window. The coil spring 68 is provided within the cylindrical housing fil abutting the'end closure 65 and the inside end of the latch bolt 5'5, thus normally tending to push the latch bolt outwardly.

The outside tubular spindle 35 is provided with an outwardly extending detent button it which is adapted to be engaged by the retainer key plate 55 whichias previously stated is adapted to slide between the guide members The plate 55 is provided with an elongated central opening H for the spindle 3d which permits the plate to be shifted endwise. The plate 55 is provided with a hole. 72 by which the plate may be shifted by means of a tool entering through the window 35, to release the button and thereby allow the outside spindle 38 to be removed without opening the housing 25. A keying pin 13 is provided to prevent the plate 55 from shifting, this pin being provided with a head id positioned adjacent the outer wall of the inside half housing 22, and being inserted in coinciding holes '15, and respectively in the half housing 22, the retainer plate 58 and the half housing 2 l. When it is desired to release the outside spindle after the set is installed in the door, it may be accomplished by removing the inside rosette from the clamping plate, sliding it toward the inside knob, and releasing the inside knob by raising the inside spindle key. The keying pin is then pulled by its head to release the retainer key plate, and by means of a sharp tool inserted through the window 35, the retainer key plate is shifted to release the detent button on the outside spindle.

The outside knob 3! consists of a knob body 8% having a rim portion 89 and a coaxial hub 82 which is connected to the rim portion by the disk disposed inwardly from the rear face of the knob, and is provided on its rear side with a rim 8% defining the large opening on the rear face of the knob which is closed by the closure shell iizember The main portion of the knob body is covered by a shell or otherwise formed over the knob body to form the usual ellipsoidal door knob whose front face is provided with an opening 35 coinciding with the opening of the hub 82 where its abuts the front inside face of the knob shell, the margin of the shell around the hole being turned in against the inside wall of said hub. A rectangular opening 81 extending from the hub toward the periphery is provided in the disk 83, this opening continuing into the hub 82 and forming the hub slot 88, this opening and slot being arranged to admit and position the pin tumbler chamber of the keyactuated lock mechanism. The hub 82 is provided with a hub extension 39 on the rearward end thereof, said extension being only half cylindrical and being disposed diametrically opposite the rectangular opening 8?. A detent boss 'is provided on the outer surface of the hub extension 89, being adapted to engage one or the other corresponding diametrical oppositely disposed slots 9| provided in the outside knob spindle 39. Two parallel slots 93 and 9d disposed at opposite sides of the hub extension 89 are provided in the disk 83, these being arranged to engage diametrical oppositely disposed fastening tabs $5 on the spindle 39.

The tubular spindle 39 consists of a metal tube large enough to fit over the hub extension 89, provided at its end with diametrically opposite fastening tabs 95 by which the spindle is rigidly, but removably, fastened to the face of the disk member 83 around said half cylindrical hub extension, as described in greater detail in' my copending application Serial No. 76,314 filed February 14, 1949, now Patent No. 2,542,117. The knob attachment end of the spindle 30 is further provided with diametrically opposite notches 99 disposed intermediate the tabs 95, one or the other of which notches engages the pin tumbler extension see of the cylindrical casing I91, enclosing the key plug I92. The key plug 182 which is adapted to be turned by the key K is retained in the cylindrical casing HM by the turning bar connection Hi3 held to the plug H32 by screws I86.

The turning bar makes operative connection to the key plug I52 through the tongue I05, the said bar being centered axially within the outside tubular spindle 30 by the washer I00, stop arms I09 adjacent the tongue I06, and by the locking tab disk I I rotatably mounted upon the bar I adjacent the rollback I01, said rollback extending from the rollback disk HI which is non-rotatably attached to the end of the bar I05, for example, by a tongue II2, which is held rigidly in the corresponding hole H3 in the rollback disk I I I. A spacer member H4 is non-rotatably mounted on the bar I05 between the disk H0 and the washer I08, and a compression coil spring H5 is disposed around the bar between said washer I08 and disk H0. The locking tab disk H0 is provided with a peripherally extending locking tab I I6, and is conveniently provided with an aligning tab III for the purposes described below.

The outside spindle 30 is provided at its unattached end with a rollback I which is a segmental end of the tubular spindle, the longitudinal edges I2I being adapted to press alternatively when the outside knob is turned, upon the thrust partition wall M of the retractor 40 to thereby move the retractor and the latch bolt which is operatively attached thereto. In order to permit the necessary rotation of the outside knob 3|, a portion of the spindle 30 between the rollback .I20and the locking notch I22, approximately one-half the circumference, is cut away to avoid interference with the locking tab IIB when this tab is not being depressed by the turn button and its associated partsthat is, when the outside-knob 3I- is free to be turned to operate the latch. Y

The inside knob 34 is attached to the inside tubular spindle 33, the-spindle extending through the knob to the front face thereof to define an opening I23 in which the turn button I24 is mounted. The knob 34 is provided with a finish hub I25 extending toward the body 20 and telescoping over a portion of the spindle 33, the end abutting the end of the inside bearing sleeve 32. The spindle 33 is provided with a circumferential retainer key slot I26 which extends approximately one-half the circumference of the spindle to permit the turning of the spindle for a sufficient amount to fully move the retractor 40 by means of the rollback I2! at the end of the spindle 33. This rollback I2'I at the end of the spindle 33 consists of a short segment of the tubular spindle with longitudinal edges I28 arranged to alternatively press upon the thrust partition wall M of the retractor 40, one edge being effective when the knob 34 is turned in one direction and the other edge when the knob is turned in the opposite direction, in either case to move the retractor and withdraw the latch bolt I53. The retainer key I29 fits in the retainer key slot I26 of the spindle 33 and in the retainer key slot 32A in the sleeve 32. The retainer key I29 is normally held down in place by a hairpin spring I30 which is attached at one end to the end of the cylindrical body 20 in the groove I3I.

The turn button I24 is connected to the spindle locking sleeve I32 by the bayonet bar I33 whose other end is swivel connected at I34 to the spindle locking sleeve I32. The spindle locking sleeve I32, in its mid-portion, is cut away leaving a segment I35 of about one-third of the cylinder to avoid interference with the reciprocatory movement of the retractor 40. The other end of the locking sleeve I32 is provided with a circumferential opening I36 on one side for the looking tab IIG, being cut away on the opposite side for the aligning tab I I1.

The bayonet bar I33 connecting'the turn button I24 and the locking sleeve is provided with a bayonet pin I3'I extending outwardly from the bar and adapted to follow the bayonet groove I38, which is provided in the end of the inside tubular spindle 33 adjacent the turn button I24. An aligning tab I39 is provided opposite the bayonet pin tab I3I in order to hold the latter in the bayonet groove I38 when the turn button is pressed inwardly and turned to lock the button in its inward position. The longitudinal or inward movement of the button I24 moves the looking sleeve'l32 so that the end of the opening I36 presses the locking tab II6 into the locking notch I22 in the outside spindle 30, this locking notch being on the'side of the cylinder opposite the rollback I20. The locking tab IIO also engages the groove 35 in the outside bearing sleeve 29, thus preventing rotation of the spindle 30 relative to the bearing sleeve 29. The turn button I24 is thus pressed inwardly and rotatedin order to "engage the bayonet pin tab1I3'I in. the bayonet groove I38 and thereby hold the locking sleeve I32 against the locking tab IIB, locking the outside knob against rotation. "The inside knob, because of the swivel connection at I34, may be rotated without releasing the turn button I24, thus the retractor and the latch bolt may be operated from the inside knob 'without efiectingthe looked condition of the outside knob.-'

The latch may also be retracted by the use of the removable pocket key K which operatesthe plug I02, which in turn is operatively connected through the turning bar I05 to the rollback IN. This rollback I01 actuates the retractor 40 independently of the rollbacks I20 and I21 on the outside spindle 30 and the inside spindle 33 respectively, and irrespective of the position of the turn button I24, thus permitting the retraction of the latch bolt at any time by means of the key K.

The body 20 is arranged to be positioned centrally in the mounting hole in the door D by means of the threaded clamping disk 31, which is permanently attached to the outside rosette 38, and the removable clamping disk I40 disposed respectively on the outside and inside of the door. Screw holes I42 for screws I 42A are provided in the disk I40 which engage the threaded holes 24A in the body 20 to clamp the body to the door. A window MI is provided in the clamping disk I40 for the inside bearing sleeve 32 to give better access to the hairpin spring I30 holding the retainer key I29. After removal of the inside knob and spindle, and clamping plate, the keying pin I3 may be pulled out to release the retainer key plate 56, which when shifted laterally by the use of a long sharp tool, releases the outside knob 3| and its spindle 30, following which the cylinder lock may be changed or rotated through if desired.

The advantages of my invention will be apparent. The rigid die-cast body and the integral elongated bearing sleeves for the knob spindles provide a durable lock set in which the knobs and spindles do not become loose and wobbly after long use. The set is adapted to be used upon doors of slightly varying thicknesses, with the protrusion of the knobs being equalized on the two sides of the door. The latch bolt is independently retracted through a common retractor by the turning of either knob in either direction and also by means of a removable key turned in either direction. The outside knob may be fixed against rotation through the inside turn lbutton so that entry may not? be effected without the ;use ofa -proper key, This outside knoblocking closing the door.; The key slot for the removable. key is easily reversible in position so that the lock may be properly positioned on either right or left hand doors and under the same circumstances the latch bolt unit may be reversed in position through its tongue and groove connection with the retractor. The outsidekno-b and its attached spindle may be easily disconnected and removed for changing the key combination or for reversing the position of the keyslot, by shifting. the retainer key plate by access with a pointed rod or tool through the provided window in the body after pulling out the keying pin 13. The labor required for installation adjustment and resetting of mylock and latch set is reduced to a minimum by the provision of the described cylindrical body mounted in a bored hole through the door, with the latch bolt unit being mounted in another hole drilled from the edge of the doorat right angles to the main mounting hole. Because of the provision of the spring pressed rocker plate in the retractor, the key-actuated rollback cannot jam, and the key is spring-actuated to return to its original position before turning to unlatch the door.

I claim: I

'1. In a door knob lock and latch set of the kind described, a retractor adapted to be reciprocated, a roll-back for actuating said retractor, said rollback being operatively connected to a key operable lock cylinder," a thrust plate on said retractor having a slot adapted to receive a contact edge piece, a rockably mounted contact edge piece mounted in said slot for making operative contact with said rollback, said contact edge piece being spring pressured so that upon the release of applied pressure through said rollback, said contact edge initiates the return of said rollback to its neutral position.

2. In a door knob lock and latch set of the kind described having a spring pressed retractor adapted to be reciprocated, a rollback for actuating said retractor, said rollback being operatively connected to a key operable lock cylinder, a thrust plate on aid 'retractor having operatively associated therewith a rockably mounted contact edge piece for making operative contact with said rollback, an abutment plate disposed below said thrust plate and pressed against said contact edge piece by the spring for said retractor, so that upon the release of applied pressure through said rollback, said contact edge initiates the return of said rollback to its neutral position.

' ROBERT C. CERF, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 22,622 Voight Mar. 20, 1945 965 519 Hill July 26, 1910 1,991,031 Schlage Feb. 12, 1935 1,999,311 Voight Apr. 30, 1935 2,076,125 Grimsrud Apr. 6, 1937 2,167 736 Allen Aug. 1, 1939 2,318,947 Kidder May 11, 1943 

